Multi-element constructional assembly

ABSTRACT

A constructional assembly includes a first rigid member, such as a wood beam or surface; a metallic surface having a repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves, one side of the surface secured to one side of the rigid member, and a second rigid member secured to an opposite side of the metallic surface. The repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves may employ a variety of geometries or corrugations, inclusive of patterns which are sinusoidal, trapezoidal, saw tooth, square wave, and triangular. This assembly is exceedingly stable, light, economical, and may be readily provided with internal apertures providing pre-formed passageways thru which electrical wiring, plumbing, air ducts, data lines and the like may be readily passed during the construction of a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Area of the Invention

The present invention relates to a constructional element withcorrugated central surface.

2. Prior Art

Use of corrugated panels as an element in a wall or floor assembly hashad only limited use, which has generally been that of end supports orfoundation elements in a position transverse to the end of a supportbeam or the like. The same is reflected in such references as U.S. Pat.No. 6,205,727 (2001) to Butler, entitled Interlocking Corrugated PanelWall Cast In-Situ.

The present invention recognizes the potential application of so-callednarrow gauge steel, i.e., steel having a gauge in a range of about 1 toabout 3 mm. for the formation of a surface having a repetitive sequenceof ridges and grooves, e.g., corrugations. Therein, such elements areemployed as a center support means and truss substitute within a largerconstructional assembly in the nature of an internal part of a supportpanel of a larger structure. The prior art does not, to the knowledge ofthe inventor, suggest such a constructional assembly or the use ofcorrugated narrow gauge steel in such a fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive constructional assembly comprises a first rigid member inthe nature of a wood beam or sheet of plywood; a metallic surface formedof a material such as narrow gauge steel having a repetitive sequence ofridges and grooves therein, in which one side of said surface is securedto said first rigid members; and a second rigid member formed of amaterial such as wood, secured to an opposite side of said corrugatedsurface. The corrugations may take a variety of geometries including,without limitation, a sinusoidal pattern, trapezoidal pattern, saw toothpattern, square wave pattern, or a pattern of triangular ridges and flatgrooves.

It is an object of the invention to provide a composite constructionalassembly in which a corrugated surface of a narrow gauge steel issecured between upper and lower elements of a material such as wood.

It is another object to provide a constructional assembly of the abovetype, said surface of corrugated narrow gauge steel may be provided witha plurality of holes or apertures sufficient to permit passage of wiresand conduits therethrough.

It is a further object to provide an assembly that can form a wall,panel, or part of a ceiling and floor.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description ofthe Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and claims appendedherewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic xy plane view of a prior art ceiling and floorassembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet of corrugated narrow gauge steelsuitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1 however showingthe provision of a corrugated sheet with a plurality of apertures.

FIG. 4 is an x-z plane cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of theinventive constructive assembly.

FIGS. 5 thru 8 are cross-sectional views showing various patterns ofcorrugations which may be employed in the practice of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic xy plane showing the use of a trapezoidal patternof corrugations between the upper and lower rigid wood surfaces of theassembly.

FIG. 10 is an xz plane, cross-sectional view taken along Line 10-10 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view of the inventive constructional assembly mounted uponone floor of a multi-story building under construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the schematic view of FIG. 1, there is show a priorart, truss-supported system wherein a floor 22 is secured above aceiling 24 through use of a series of triangular steel trusses 26. Thistechnology traditionally employs medium gauge steel elements 28 and, assuch, requires extending welding at joints 30 of the system. In suchprior art, conduits could be horizontally positioned within spaces 32,however the vertical exiting or positioning of conduits between floorsconstituted a labor and cost-intensive exercise.

The present invention utilizes narrow gauge steel in a range of gaugesbetween about 22 and about 14, that is, between about 1 and 3millimeters, as a support and spacing surface between a first rigidmember or surface, preferably a wood beam 54 or wood-like material, anda second oppositely disposed wood beam 56 or wood-like beam or surface.See FIG. 9. More particularly, a surface 40 (see FIG. 2) having arepetitive sequence of ridges 42 and grooves 44 formed of a narrow gaugesheet of stainless steel in shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 is shown such asteel sheet 140 of smaller z-axis dimension which, however, has beenprovided with a plurality of openings or apertures 46 having an edgedimension 50. A similar view, showing the use of square apertures 48, isshown in the plan view of FIG. 4. Therefrom it may be appreciated thatthe diameter of an aperture 48 often falls in a range of about 3 to 4ridge and groove diameters in general, can have a length in a range ofbetween about 50 to about 250 mm. This dimension is also applicable tosaid edges 50 of the square apertures shown in FIG. 3. Said ridges andgrooves themselves will typically have a diameter or edge dimension ofabout 15 to 75 millimeters, and the depth of grove typically will alsofall in a range of about 15 to about 75 mm.

In FIGS. 5 to 8 are shown alternate xy plane cross-sections of theridge-and-groove pattern shown in FIGS. 24. More particularly, FIG. 5shows a sinusoidal pattern 62, FIG. 6 a trapezoidal pattern 64, FIG. 7 asaw tooth pattern 66, and FIG. 8 a square wave pattern 68 which is takenalong Line 8-8 of FIG. 4. Therefrom it may be appreciated that a widerange of undulating or corrugated patterns may be employed with respectto the narrow gauge steel sheet 40 or 140 employed in the presentinvention.

With reference to FIG. 9-11, there is shown use of the trapezoidalpattern 64 of FIG. 6 having ridges 42 and grooves 44 associatedtherewith. Further shown in said figures is the manner in which an upperwood beam 54 may be attached, as by riveting 66, to ridge 42 while alower wood beam 56 is similarly attached to the bottom of each groove44. Therein, embodiment, said holes 48 (see FIG. 11) may be placedwithin the corrugated structure of sheet 64 so as to provide for conduitspace 58 between a ceiling 57 and wall floor 59 of a largerconstructional system 60. It is to be appreciated that an assembly ofthe type shown in FIG. 11 may readily be employed in a verticalorientation as an interior wall or panel to thereby provide acost-effective, exceedingly stable constructional element provided withall necessary conduit space prior to construction.

It is to be further appreciated that combinations of the above may beemployed in a horizontal xy plane in selected locations within astructure to provide for pre-formed constructional conduits whichelectrical wiring, plumbing, air ducts, data lines and the like may bereadily passed therethrough during the construction process.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinstant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may beembodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described andthat, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the formand arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideasor principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appendedherewith.

1. A constructional assembly comprising: (a) a first rigid member; (b) ametallic surface having a repetitive sequence of ridges and groovestherein, one side of said surface secured to said first rigid member;and (c) a second rigid member, said element secured to an opposite sideof said surface.
 2. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 1,in which said surface comprises: a steel sheet having a gauge in a rangeof about 22 to about
 14. 3. The constructional assembly as recited inclaim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves of said surfacecomprises a corrugated surface.
 4. The constructional assembly asrecited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves definesa sinusoidal pattern.
 5. The constructional assembly as recited in claim2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves defines a trapezoidalpattern.
 6. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in whichsaid sequence of ridges and grooves defines a saw tooth pattern.
 7. Theconstructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said ridges andgrooves define a square wave pattern.
 8. The constructional assembly asrecited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves definea pattern of triangular ridges and flat grooves.
 9. The constructionalassembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges andgrooves of said second surface comprises ridges having a width in arange of about 15 to 75 mm depths a range of 15 to 75 mm.
 10. Theconstructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence ofridges and grooves of said second surface comprises grooves having adepth in a range of about 15 to about 75 mm.
 11. The constructionalassembly as recited in claim 10, in which ridges and grooves of saidsurface include a plurality of transverse apertures having a greatestlinear dimension in a range of about 50 to about 250 mm.
 12. Theconstructional assembly as recited in claim 5, in which parallelopposing surfaces of said trapezoidal pattern are secured between saidfirst and second members.
 13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, inwhich said first members comprises part of a floor, and said secondmember comprises a part of a ceiling.
 14. The assembly as recited inclaim 12, in which said first and second members comprise respectivesides of a wall of a building.
 15. The assembly as recited in claim 14,in which said ridges and grooves of said second surface include aplurality of apertures having a greatest linear dimension in a range ofabout 50 to 250 mm, whereby electrical wiring, data lines, plumbing, airducts and the like may be passed therethrough.